KEXP Ballard Day @ Sunset Tavern: David Bazan

Seattle local David Bazan is well-renowned on his homefront, whether for his work with the now-defunct Pedro the Lion or as lead singer of Headphones. Recent years have seen him pursue numerous solo projects, all garnering him a significant local following. His second solo full-length, Strange Negotiations, is set for release on May 24th. It’s a stirring collection of Bazan’s signature West Coast rock riffs and mournful bluesy vocals.

After playing in numerous bands throughout the 90’s and early 00’s (including The Guilty with Damien Jurado), Bazan embarked on his solo career with the 2006 EP Fewer Moving Parts. On the tour following that release Bazan was accompanied by other Seattle laureates Death Cab for Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard and Johnathan Rice (of Jenny & Johnny). In 2008, Bazan announced that he was going to play all of the instruments on his next album, Curse Your Branches, then recruit friends to play with him on the tour. The album wasn’t released until September 2009, following a slew of small acoustic house shows where Bazan debuted new material in a more intimate setting.

In order to start our broadcast from the Sunset Tavern today, Dave woke himself up at 4 in the morning, took long walk, and performed flawlessly to a full crowd… and even took questions between songs! Fans who have followed Bazan’s career will find the new songs he played as inquisitive and soul-searching as ever, and for good measure, he even threw in the Pedro the Lion song “Transcontinental.” Check out photos from the session now: